About Princess of Kiev Premislava Vladimirovna

2. MIHÁLY ([940/45]-[976/78]). The Chronicon Varadiense names "dux Geisa, pater B. Stephani, secundus…Michael dux" as the two sons of "Toxin"[260]. The Kronika Węgiersko-Polska names "Geyzan, Mychlemum et caluum Ladislaum" as the three sons of "Thoxon"[261]. The Gesta Hungarorum names "Mihal…frater Geichæ" when referring to his two sons[262]. Duke between March and Gran. m ([970/75]) as her first husband, ADELAJDA [Adleta] of Poland, daughter of [ZIEMOMYSŁ Duke in Poland] & his [second wife ---] ([950/60]-after 997). The primary source which confirms her first marriage has not yet been identified. According to Europäische Stammtafeln[263], Adelajda was the daughter not sister of Mieszko I Prince of Poland, although the primary source on which this is based has not yet been identified. If this is correct, she was an otherwise unrecorded daughter by his first wife (name not known), assuming that Prince Mieszko's marriage to Dobroslawa of Bohemia is correctly dated to 965. Adelajda's birth date range is estimated from the supposed dates of birth of her two sons by her first husband (before his death in [976/78]) and of her three known daughters by her second marriage after [985]. The birth date range appears chronologically more consistent with her having been the daughter, rather than sister, of Mieszko, but this would be in direct contradiction to the sources quoted below. If she was Mieszko's sister, it is likely that they did not share the same mother, assuming that the estimated birth dates of Mieszko and Adelajda are both accurate. After her first husband died, she married secondly ([980]) her husband's older brother Prince Géza, a marriage which may have been arranged in accordance with the Magyar tradition that the oldest male relative should marry the widow of a deceased relative and take care of his children. The Annales Kamenzenses record that "Mesco…rex Polanorum…sororem…Atleydem" married "Iesse rex Ungarie"[264]. The Breve chronicon Silesiæ names "Adilheidem" as sister of "primo dux Mesco", adding that she married "Jesse rex Ungarie"[265]. The Kronika Węgiersko-Polska records that "Iesse" married "sororem Meschonis ducis…Athleitam", adding that she was a Christian and converted her husband to Christianity[266]. Duke Mihály & his wife had two known children:

a) LÁSZLÓ "Szár/the Bald" (-1029). The Gesta Hungarorum names "Wazul et Zar Ladislaum" as the sons of "Mihal…frater Geichæ"[267]. The Chronicon Varadiense names "ducem…Vazul et ducem Ladislaum calvum" as the two sons of "Michael dux"[268]. Duke between March and Gran.

m ([1000]) PREMISLAVA Vladimirovna of Kiev, illegitimate daughter of VLADIMIR I "Velikiy/the Great" Sviatopolkovich Grand Prince of Kiev & his mistress --- (-[1015]). Baumgarten names the wife of Duke László and gives her origin but only cites one secondary source in support[269]. The primary source which confirms her parentage and marriage has not yet been identified. László & his wife had one child:

i) BONUSLO (-1048). The Chronicon Varadiense names "Bonuzulo" as the son of "dux…Ladislaus calvus"[270]. Duke between March and Gran.

The Primary Chronicle records that Vladimir and his wife Rogned had two unnamed daughters[99]. The Primary Chronicle records that Boleslav of Poland fled from Kiev in 1018 with Iaroslav's two sisters[100].

Is this the same person as…? PREDSLAVA Vladimirovna (-after 1018).

The Primary Chronicle names Predslava as sister of Iaroslav, recording that she warned the latter to be on his guard against Sviatopolk in 1015[101].

Bolesław I Prince of Poland asked for her hand in marriage in [1017] wishing to strengthen the bond between Poland and Russia but this was refused[102]. The Primary Chronicle records that Boleslav of Poland fled from Kiev in 1018 with Iaroslav's two sisters[103].

According to Baumgarten[104], Predslava married Boleslav III Duke of the Bohemians. There is no indication about the date of such a marriage.

Information concerning Duke Boleslav and Predslava which is available from primary sources shows that [999/1002] and after [1018] are the most likely dates. However, a careful analysis of such information also shows difficulties which cast considerable doubt over the likelihood of such a marriage. If the marriage took place in [999/1002], during Duke Boleslav's brief period of rule in Bohemia, Predslava must have been born in the late 970s/early 980s, maybe the daughter of Grand Prince Vladimir by his first wife Rogneda of Polotsk (whom he married in [978], and was separated from in [986]). However, the three references in the Primary Chronicle cite above, which apparently relate to Predslava, show that she was still living at the court of Kiev during the period [1015/18] and that she was probably unmarried at the time.

If the marriage took place after [1018], after Predslava had been taken to Poland, the probable age difference between Predslava and Duke Boleslav would have been pronounced, and Boleslav's apparent lack of political influence at the time must have reduced his marriage prospects. Concerning the age difference, if Predslava was still considered marriageable by Boleslaw I Prince of Poland in [1017], it is likely that she was born somewhat later than [978/86] (in which case she would have been the daughter of Grand Prince Vladimir by one of his concubines).

Duke Boleslav's date of birth is unknown. However, his paternal uncle is recorded as having been born in 929 and the likely birth date range of his paternal aunt was [940/45]. It is therefore unlikely that Duke Boleslav's father was born much later than the 930s. Even if his father married late, it is therefore improbable that Duke Boleslav himself was born much later than [970].

This would mean a 25/30 year age difference between Predslava and Boleslav, although it is recognised that marriages between partners of unequal ages were not unheard of at the time. The question of Duke Boleslav's political status probably represents a more serious obstacle. By [1018], 15 years had passed since he had been blinded and sent into exile.

No information has been found in the primary sources about his activity during this period, which suggests that he had fallen into obscurity. It is not known whether Boleslav spent all his years of exile in Poland and, if so, under what conditions he lived. However, according to Europäische Stammtafeln[105], he died in a Polish prison (in 1035). It is not known how long he had been in prison, but his absence from the scene during the early 1030s, when his younger brother Duke Jaromir was restored and deposed in Bohemia for a third time, suggests that ex-Duke Boleslav may have been dismissed as a possible successor in Bohemia due to a lengthy period of imprisonment. His blindness may also have been considered an insuperable handicap.

According to the Russian Wikipedia page on her father, Vladimir Svyatoslavich: